Micro-grids... A major Power-up for the Communities

Micro-grids are essentially the miniature models of Centralized Electrical power grid. Similar to the huge/bulk power grids, they generate, transmit and distribute and regulate power but locally on a smaller scale, say for a community. They can be connected with the traditional grids and operate independently as well.

They can be powered from the Main grid or batteries or Renewable sources or Distributed generators. Based on the type and size, micro grids can serve a community to a village depending on the load capacity. Micro grids to an greater extent reduces the dependence on the Central grid and the sudden outages.

Micro grids play a huge role in Renewable energy generation like Solar energy where consumers engage in the direct production and consumption being a community as a whole.

This is highly useful where Power production can become a local enterprise for people to power themselves. Here the Solar panels could be installed for the community as a whole and not in individual houses. This reduces the cost, space, storage and transmission losses. Storage also becomes easy on a regular basis for bigger community and not families. Its a great win-win in terms of power production and cost reduction. So to summarize Micro-grids could be of

Less dependence on the Central grid,

Low cost Production,

No outages,

Uninterrupted Power supply

For the Communities

It will be of great potential for Industrial estates, commercial setups and Business centers which need huge supply of power.